Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Kathy Sheehan will become the 75th Mayor of the City of Albany on January 1, 2014. She will address the first Albany Roundtable luncheon of 2014 on THURSDAY, January 9. The Roundtable usually meets on the second Wednesday of the month, but the date was changed to avoid a conflict with Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address.

Albany Roundtable luncheon meetings are held at the National Register-listed University Club, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street in Albany, and are open to the public.

Kathy was elected Albany’s Treasurer and Chief Fiscal Officer in 2010. During her campaign for Treasurer, she pledged to bring independence, transparency and financial common sense to city hall. She refused to accept a city-owned vehicle, streamlined her office’s operations and modernized property tax and parking ticket collections.

She is a graduate of Albany Law School, and started her legal career as an attorney in the Albany office of Bond, Schoeneck & King. In 1996 she joined Intermagnetics General Corporation, a leading medical device manufacturer based in Latham. As vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Kathy helped grow the company from 500 employees to more than 1,200 and from $90 million in sales to more than $300 million.

Kathy married her husband, Bob, in 1992 at St. Vincent DePaul Church on Madison Avenue. They have dedicated countless hours to serving our community. Kathy and Bob live in the 8th ward with their 13 year old son and a rambunctious Boston Terrier.

KeyBank N.A. is sponsoring the January 9 luncheon. “Key is pleased to provide charitable support to area cultural and educational resources, to volunteer efforts that help build local neighborhoods and livelihoods, and to civic leadership,” said Mitchell Miller, Senior Vice President, KeyBank. “This is a very exciting time for the city of Albany, and we are delighted to help the Roundtable welcome Mayor Sheehan.”

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable also offers guests the option of paying in advance with a credit card. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the January 9 luncheon are required by Monday, January 6 and may be made by paying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Albany Roundtable has selected Grand Street Community Arts to receive its prestigious New Patroon Award for the organization’s efforts to cultivate unity through the arts in a racially and economically diverse neighborhood in Albany. The award will be presented at the Albany Roundtable luncheon on Wednesday, November 13th. Edwards Grimes-Carrión, executive director of Grand Street Community Arts, will accept the award.

Since 2003, residents of the Mansion neighborhood have been using the arts to bridge cultural and economic divides. Through a variety of programs – including YO! Youth Organics; YouthFX: Youth Film eXperience; YouthARTS; and the Vacant Lot Project – Grand Street Community Arts has set out to engage the creativity and imagination of local youth in areas that they otherwise might not experience in schools or at home.

The group is in the midst of a crowdsourcing effort to raise money for repairs to their headquarters, the former St. Anthony’s Church on Madison Avenue at Grand Street. Built in 1907, the building needs a new heating system as well as repairs to the roof, floors and walls, and plumbing to meet city codes and continue to fulfill its mission. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.grandarts.org .

“Grand Street Community Arts has created a supportive community that focuses on its youth,” said Chris Hawver, President of the Albany Roundtable. “The center presents a broad spectrum of arts programs and performances that encourage art as a natural tool of expression available to everyone. By restoring historic St. Anthony’s church as its home, the arts center creates and nurtures a link with the living history of the community. In doing so, Grand Street Community Arts is fostering a more vibrant and sustainable city. We are delighted to honor them with the New Patroon award.”

The featured speaker for the November 13 luncheon is Tammis Groft, Executive Director of the Albany Institute of History & Art. She will discuss the Institute’s latest exhibit, GE Presents: The Mystery of the Albany Mummies. The Albany Institute of History & Art is one of the oldest museums in the United States (founded 1791) and is a major repository for the region’s history and cultural heritage. Ms. Groft was appointed executive director of the Institute in 2013. She began as an intern in 1976 and was hired as Assistant Curator of Collections and Exhibitions in 1978.

The Albany Roundtable established its Good Patroon Award 1988 to celebrate outstanding contributions to the community by institutions and individuals. While the Good Patroon Award has traditionally honored organizations and individuals with a long record of service to the community, the Roundtable launched its New Patroon Award in 2011 to highlight and encourage the work of newer organizations.

The most recent Good Patroon Award winners include Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile; Amy Klein and Capital District Community Gardens; Maude Baum, Artistic Director of eba Dance Theatre; housing and social justice advocates Roger and Maria Markovics; and Christine M. Miles, Director of the Albany Institute of History and Art. Catherine Hedgeman and The Stakeholders, Inc., received the first New Patroon Award in 2011, followed by Jeff Mirel and The Albany Barn in 2012.

The November 13 Roundtable Luncheon begins at 12:00 noon and will be held at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany at 141 Washington Avenue. The luncheon is open to the public and the cost is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable also offers the option of paying in advance with a credit card at www.albanyroundtable.blogspot.com. The University Club will serve lunch from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations are required by Tuesday, November 12 and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

“When he died in 1839, Stephen Van Rensselaer III was remembered as ‘The Good Patroon’ for his benevolent attitude toward the residents of Rensselaerswyck,” said Hawver. “The Good Patroon and New Patroon Awards are the Albany Roundtable’s means of honoring those leaders who make our community a better place to live. We are so pleased to be able to present Grand Street Community Arts with this award.”

Monday, October 28, 2013

MYSTERY OF ALBANY’S 3,000-YEAR-OLD MUMMIES THE TOPIC FOR
ALBANY ROUNDTABLE’S NOVEMBER 13TH LUNCHEON

The Albany Roundtable has a fascinating speaker lined up for
its November 13th luncheon; Tammis K. Groft, executive director of the Albany
Institute of History & Art, is expected to discuss the Institute’s latest
exhibit, GE Presents: The Mystery of the
Albany Mummies.

The story of the Albany Mummies centers on two Ancient
Egyptian mummies and their coffins. Albany Institute board member Samuel Brown
purchased the 3,000 year old mummies and coffin bottoms from the Cairo Museum
in 1909.

Plans for a major exhibition began seven years ago with new
research, including analysis of the of the hieroglyphs on the coffin parts
which indicated it belonged to Ankhefenmut, a priest and sculptor who lived
between the years 1069 and 945 BC. X-Rays and CT Scans performed by Albany
Medical Center also yielded surprising results.

The Albany Institute of History & Art is one of the oldest museums in the United States (founded 1791) and is a major repository for the region's history and cultural heritage.

Ms. Groft was appointed executive director of the Institute
in 2013. She began as an intern in 1976 and was hired as Assistant Curator of
Collections and Exhibitions in 1978. Since then, she has assumed increasing
responsibilities and has served as chief curator since 1987. She has organized
and researched or supervised the development of over 70 exhibitions
highlighting the history, art and culture of the Capital Region.

Ms. Groft also serves and an Adjunct Professor for the
Public History Program, SUNYA and teaches a Graduate course called Curatorial
Practices. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Williamstown Art
Conservation Center, in Williamstown, MA. Ms. Groft holds an MA in American
Folk Culture from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New
York at Oneonta, and a BA in Anthropology from Hartwick College, Oneonta.

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the
door. The Roundtable is also offering its guests the option of paying in
advance with a credit card at www.albanyroundtable.com. The
University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.,
with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the November 13 luncheon
are required by November 11 and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie
Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy will address the first Albany Roundtable luncheon of 2013-2014 on WEDNESDAY, October 9. Albany Roundtable luncheon meetings are held at the National Register-listed University Club, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street in Albany, and are open to the public.

County Executive McCoy was sworn into office on January 1, 2012 after serving twelve years as a County Legislator representing the 10th District which contains parts of Albany and Bethlehem. As a County Legislator, Dan was unanimously elected by peers to be the Chairman and served in this capacity for 2 years. He also served for three years as Chairman of the Albany County Democratic Committee, the youngest person to be voted to that position.

Dan's priorities for his administration include fostering economic development opportunities through a Local Development Corporation; launching a small business incubator in the County Building to provide low cost space to fledgling companies looking to grow within Albany County; expanding the Domestic violence court within the City of Albany countywide; restructure and improve the healthcare delivery administered by the county and aggressively address the County's accumulated operating deficit.

McCoy is expected to discuss the challenges of Albany County nursing home and providing future services to the aging population in the County, in addition to touching on other issues important to the residents and business community in Albany.

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable is also offering its guests the option of paying in advance with a credit card. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the October 9 luncheon are required by October 8, and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. He's boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. In his essential new book, Walkable City, Speck reveals the invisible workings of the city, how simple decisions have cascading effects, and how we can all make the right choices for our communities.

Jeff Speck, city planner, architect and author,will be the featured speaker at the Albany Roundtable’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

The event is open to the public, and will be held at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street. The reception will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., and will feature a social hour with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a short update on the Albany Roundtable Civic Luncheon Series, the presentation of the Good Patroon Award, the presentation of the inaugural Albany Roundtable Scholarship, and a talk and book signing by the visiting speaker. Tickets are $30 and may bepurchased online.

The following morning, the Albany Roundtable will sponsor a workshop with Speck for planning professionals, municipal leaders and interested citizens, titled“Walkability 101- 999: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your City More Walkable.” The workshop will be held at the University Club from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon with registration at 9:30 a.m. The cost for the workshop is $20. Participants are invited to stay for lunch for an additional $20. Reservations for the workshop and lunch may also be made online.

Speck, who lives in Washington, D.C., advocates internationally for smart growth and sustainable design through writing, lectures, and built work. As Director of Design at the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 through 2007, he oversaw the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, a federal program that helps state governors fight suburban sprawl.

Prior to joining the Endowment, Mr. Speck spent ten years as Director of Town Planning at Duany Plater-Zyberk and Co., a leading practitioner of the New Urbanism, where he led or managed more than forty of the firm’s projects. He is the co-author of Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream as well as The Smart Growth Manual. He serves as a Contributing Editor to Metropolis Magazine, and on the Sustainability Task Force of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His new book,Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012), is now available in print, digital, and audio format.

At the evening reception, the Albany Roundtable will present its Good Patroon Award to The Music Mobile and its founder Ruth Pelham for teaching children the importance of civility, fostering cooperative behavior, and imparting the value of tolerance. The Good Patroon Award was established by the Albany Roundtable in 1988 to recognize outstanding contributions to the community by institutions and individuals. The Albany Roundtable will also present a $1,000 scholarship to Jonah Mackay, a senior at Clayton A. Bouton High School in Voorheesville, for demonstrated civic leadership.

“The Albany Roundtable has embraced the concepts of smart growth, New Urbanism and sustainability since it was founded in 1979,” said Colleen Ryan, president of the all-volunteer 501c3 corporation. “As Howard Mansfield wrote over a decade ago in his book,The Same Ax, Twice, ‘the last forty years of suburban development have wiped out our memory of how to build towns … There is a growing movement of architects … who are looking to revive traditional town design.’ We’re looking forward to learning more about how to make better choices for our communities, and how a commitment to walkability inevitably enhances city life.”

Friday, March 22, 2013

Raymond L. Rudolph, Jr., PE, Chief Executive Officer of CHA, will address the Albany Roundtable on Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Albany Roundtable luncheon meetings are held at the National Register-listed University Club, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street in Albany, and are open to the public.

In the summer of 2012, CHA announced its participation in an initiative to support SUNY Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s (CNSE’s) efforts to combine innovation and education in next-generation technologies to establish the Albany as a hub for 21st century industry. Rudolph will provide an overview of CHA’s role in passenger rail projects, advanced manufacturing, nanotechnology and “smart cities,” and their plans to establish an office in Kiernan Plaza in downtown Albany.

CHA is a full service engineering firm with the in-house capabilities to supply the engineering, planning, surveying, permitting, environmental, and construction inspection and administration services needed to complete complicated projects. This eliminates the need for their clients to engage multiple subcontractors, increases efficiency and reduces expenses.

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable is also offering its guests the option of paying in advance with a credit card. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the April 10 luncheon are required by Monday, April 8 and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

The Albany Roundtable’s annual evening reception, featuring Visiting Speaker Jeff Speck, will be held at the University Club on Wednesday, May 22. Speck is an architect, planner and the author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. The following day, the Albany Roundtable will sponsor a workshop with Speck for planning professionals, municipal leaders and interested citizens, titled “Walkability 101- 999: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your City More Walkable.” Tickets for these events may be purchased online after April 15 at www.albanyroundtable.blogspot.com .

Monday, February 25, 2013

Jeff Cleary, Executive Director of Albany’s Irish American Heritage Museum, will address the Albany Roundtable on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. Albany Roundtable luncheon meetings are held at the National Register-listed University Club, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street in Albany, and are open to the public.

The Irish American Heritage Museum is a permanently chartered 501(c)3 non-profit with an educational mission: To preserve and tell the story of the contributions of the Irish people and their culture in America, inspiring individuals to examine the importance of their own heritage as part of the American cultural mosaic. As such, the Museum is unique in America, where almost 40 million individuals claim Irish ancestry. It is committed to the basic tenet that preserving one’s heritage is vital to providing a cultural and historical foundation to future generations of Americans.

The museum, located at 370 Broadway in downtown Albany, provides year-round access to exhibits, the Paul O’Dwyer Library, lectures, presentations, film screenings, book signings and other special programs. The Museum was an integral force in requiring instruction in New York State’s public schools about the Irish Famine of 1845-1853. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Mr. Cleary has been associated with the Irish American Heritage museum since 2009, and managed all aspects of the acquisition and build out of the museum’s new facility. He oversees daily operations and staff and has acquired over $500,000 in grants for the museum in the last three years.

Mr. Cleary is also the President of Knickerbocker Consulting, LLC. Knickerbocker provides Public Relations, Communications, Government Relations, Project / Event Management, Political Consulting and Leadership Development to a diverse group of clients. He resides in Waterford, New York with his wife, Michelle and their son Nolan.

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable is also offering its guests the option of paying in advance with a credit card at www.albanyroundtable.com. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the March 13 luncheon are required by Monday, March 11 and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com.

Monday, February 4, 2013

NYS Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education Will Speak on February 13

ALBANY, NY – January 3, 2013 – Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education at the New York State Education Department will address the Albany Roundtable on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. Albany Roundtable luncheon meetings are held at the National Register-listed University Club, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street in Albany, and are open to the public.

Mr. Cannell was appointed New York’s Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education in 2007. In that role, he oversees the State Library, State Museum, State Archives and the Public Broadcasting Program.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Cannell served for nearly 10 years as Director of the Albany Public Library. Previously, Mr. Cannell was Director of the Wayne County Public Library in Goldsboro, North Carolina; Manager, Cliffdale Branch, Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center, Fayetteville, North Carolina; Branch Manager of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; bookseller for a number of enterprises from 1971-1980 and Reference Librarian at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Comparative Literature and a Master of Library Science, both from the State University of New York at Albany.

The Office of Cultural Education (OCE) is responsible for increasing the knowledge and information resources of State and local government, businesses, and individuals. The Office supports research, operates programs, and develops collections that serve the long-term interests of the institutions and residents of New York. The Office of Cultural Education provides services directly to individuals and government; distributes aid to libraries and library systems, local governments, and public broadcasting stations; and provides instructional television services through the Public Broadcasting Program.

For one month only, the Roundtable Raffle returns! Drop a business card to win a pair of tickets to help eba celebrate their 40th anniversary at the Ruby Cabaret on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m.!

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The Roundtable is also offering its guests the option of paying in advance with a credit card at www.albanyroundtable.com. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the February 13 luncheon are required by Monday, February 11 and may be made by prepaying online, by calling 518-431-1400 (the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) or by sending an e-mail to albanyroundtable@yahoo.com .

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Open to High School Seniors, Must be Sponsored by Member of Albany Roundtable

ALBANY, NY – January 10, 2013 – The Albany Roundtable, an all-volunteer non-profit corporation celebrating its 34th season in 2013, is accepting applications for The Albany Roundtable Scholarship.

The group presents a civic luncheon series which is open to the public and attracts an average of 70 participants each month to hear speakers with diverse viewpoints on timely subjects relating to the region.

The scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to a high school senior who is recommended by a member in good standing of the Albany Roundtable. The application must be submitted by a student in his or her senior year of high school, and will be awarded contingent upon acceptance an attendance at a two- or four-year college or university.
Applications must be postmarked no later than Thursday, March 21, 2013, and the scholarship will be awarded at the Roundtable’s Annual Meeting in May at the University Club of Albany.

A short questionnaire, available on the organization’s website at www.albanyroundtable.com and at Roundtable meetings in January, February and March, must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor at the applicant’s school, or if the student is home-schooled, by a member of the community. An official transcript including courses, grades and grade point average should be included, as well as an essay of 300-500 words on the following topic: “Citizenship includes the exercise of certain personal responsibilities, including considering the rights and interests of others. Discuss your involvement in a community organization, school group or in a volunteer capacity which promotes citizenship.”

Applications may be mailed to the Roundtable or may be submitted by email to ecrosen@nycap.rr.com .

“The Albany Roundtable has a long history of providing a forum for civil discussion of the issues of the day,” said the Colleen Ryan, who has served as the President of the 501c3 organization since September, 2008. “We hope that this scholarship will help to foster a new generation of civic leaders who will go on to contribute to their communities in ways that we cannot yet imagine.”

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About the Roundtable

The Albany Roundtable is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization that presents a unique opportunity for people from around the region and from all walks of life to gather to hear speakers with diverse viewpoints on timely subjects.